In a recent article on msnbc.com they have found that a recent study at San Francisco State University says extroverts are happier than introverts. Well, that’s a surprise isn’t it? We all knew this correct? But don’t jump to conclusions just yet… interestingly enough, these psychologists believe they have found the root of why this is. They found that extroverts are happier because they view their memories with rose-tinted glasses. Study researcher Ryan Howell said, “We found that highly extroverted people are happier with their lives because they tend to hold a positive, nostalgic view of the past and are less likely to have negative thoughts and regrets. People high on the neurotic scale essentially have the exact opposite view of the past and are less happy as a result.” In the study the extroverted people were found to recall the happier moments in their past and downplay the bad moments. This more positive view of the past explained 45 percent of the link between extroversion and greater life satisfaction as well as happiness level and personality link.

All hope is not lost for the introverts though. Howell suggests “savoring happy memories or recasting sad ones in an optimistic light could help.” He said: “You may be able to alter your view of time and boost your happiness.” Now personality doesn’t 100% affect your happiness so just because you may be an introvert doesn’t necessarily mean you are unhappy. However, new studies are emerging that people may have the ability to make subtle changes to their personality.

In another article on the website they give you 5 tips that can help you change your mood when you’re down:

1. Be Grateful:

Write letters of gratitude to people who have helped you in your life. Even if you don’t send the letter, writing it down will remind you that people care and help you and people reported feeling better afterwards. “The study found that these people reported a lasting increase in happiness – over weeks and even months – after implementing the habit.”

2. Be Optimistic:

Practice optimistic thinking. Visualize an ideal for the future and describe the image in a journal entry. “After doing this for a few weeks, these people too reported increased feelings of well-being.”

3. Count Your Blessings:

Write down three good things that happened to you during the week. “It seems the act of focusing on the positive helps people remember reasons to be glad.”

4. Use Your Strengths:

Identify your greatest strength and then figure out new ways to utilize this strength. “For example, someone who says they have a good sense of humor could try telling jokes to lighten up business meetings or cheer up sad friends.”

5. Commit Acts of Kindness:

“It turns out helping others also helps ourselves. People who donate time or money to charity, or who altruistically assist people in need, report improvements in their own happiness.”

Try out some of these things they can only help! And summer is right around the corner sunshine, swimming and barbecues should bring some light back into everyone’s life!